Hand-stamp.



E. M. RATHBURN.

HAND STAMP.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 16, 1912.

Patented Aug. 5, 1913.

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EARL Mi RATHBURN, OF LAMAR, MISSOURI.

HAND-STAMP.

Application filed August 16, 1912.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EARL M. RATHBURN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lamar, in the county of Barton and State of Missouri, have invented new and useful Improvements in Hand-Stamps, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to hand stamps which are used in postoflices and similar places for stamping envelops and the like, the main object being to provide a device of this class wherein the handle is flexibly and movably associated with the body of the stamp so that in making an even impression with the stamp the handle may be oscillated without changing the position of the type face with respect to the object being stamped.

A further object is to provide details of the construction which may be readily assembled, and which are effectively secured,

in assembled position.

Further objects of the invention will ap pear as the following specific description is read in connection with the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, and in Which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 2-2 in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken through the body of the device.

In the drawing the numeral 1 designates the body which is composed of a backing plate 2 for the type, cylindrical in shape, and having external screw threads 3, a sleeve 4 provided with internal threads 5 and threaded onto the plate 2, and an impression plate 6 which is provided with an annular flange 7 having external threads 8 and which is threaded into the lower end of the sleeve 4. The lower face of the impression plate 6 is provided with permanent type characters 9, and a centrally located rectangular opening 10 in the plate 6 is adapted to receive the temporary type 11 which may be replaced whenever so desired. The backing plate 2 is provided in its upper surface with a round socket 12. An inwardly extending recess 13 communicates with this socket. Lateral slots let and 15 disposed in alinement with each other are located in the backing plate and in communication with the recess 13. These slots 141 and 15. are adapted to receive the extremities of a cross rod 16. The handle of the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 55,1913.

Serial No. 715,496.

device comprises a cylindrical member 17 constructed of wood or some such material, and a ferrule 18 mounted within the lower portion of the central bore 19 of the member 17. The portion of the ferrule 18 which projects below the end of the member 17 is enlarged to form a head 20 whose lower surface is rounded to conform to the bearing surface 21 which conforms in shape wit-h the socket 12 and is adapted to be received thereby. An auxiliary ferrule 22 surrounds the lower end of the member 17 in order to prevent splitting of the same, its lower edges being inbent as at 23 and positioned between the lower edge 24 of the member 17 and the shoulder 25 provided by the enlarged head 20. The handle is retained in position by means of a flexible cable 26 whose lower extremity is fixedly secured to the cross rod 16, and whose upper extremity is secured to the lower end of a helical spring 27, whose upper end is in turn secured to a second cross rod 28 mounted within the enlarged extremity 29 of the bore 19 and is adapted to bear against the shoulder 30 provided thereby. A metal collar 31 surrounds the lower portion of the cable 26 adjacent the bearing face 21 of the head 20 so as to prevent wear on the cable which would otherwise be caused by contact with the sharp edges of the head. It will be thus seen that when the impression plate of the body is placed in contact with the article to be stamped, the handle may be oscillated in difierent directions so as to make an even impression without disturbing the position of the impression plate upon said article.

I claim 1. A hand stamp comprising a body hav ing a socket therein, a handle for said body having a longitudinal opening therein, a bearing head on said handle adapted to be received by said socket, said head having an opening therein in communication with the handle opening, said body having a recess extending inwardly from its socket, an attaching member secured to the body within the said recess adapted to extend into said head opening, and flexible means connecting said attaching member with the handle.

2. A hand stamp comprising a body having a socket therein, a handle for said body having a longitudinal opening therein, a bearing head on said handle adapted to be received by said socket, said head having an opening therein in communication with the handle opening, said body having a recess extending inwardly from its socket, an at. taching member secured to the body within the said recess adapted to extend into said head opening, and elastic means connecting the said attaching member with the handle.

3. A hand stamp comprising a body having a socket therein, a handle for said body having a longitudinal opening therein, a bearing head on said handle adapted to be received by said socket, said head having an opening therein in communication with the handle opening, said body having a recess extending inwardly from its socket, an attaching member secured to. the body within the said recess adapted to extend into said head opening, and a flexible member movable within the handle opening and connecting the said attaching member with the handle.

4a. A hand stamp comprising a body having a socket therein, a handle for said body having a longitudinal opening therein, a bearing head on said handle adapted to" be received by said socket, said head having an opening therein in communication with the handle opening, said body having a recess extending inwardly from its socket, an attaching member secured to the body within the said recess adapted to extend into said head opening, and a helical spring disposed within the handle opening and having one end fastened to the said attaching member and the other end attached to the handle.

5. A hand stamp comprising a body, said body including a sleeve, a backing plate removably secured in said sleeve adjacent its upper end, said plate having a socket in its upper face, an impression plate provided with an annular flange adapted to be removably mounted within the lower end of said sleeve, a handle for said body comprising a cylindrical member having a central bore, a ferrule secured in the lower end of said bore, an enlarged head formed on said ferrule and provided with a curved bearing face adapted to be actively engaged with said body socket, and means forsecuring the handle to the body including a flexible cable having one end attached to. the body and extending upwardly through the handle bore, and a helical spring in said bore, one end thereof being secured to the handle and the other connected with said cable.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

.EARL M. RATHBURN. Witnesses:

J; B. VVI-LLIAMs, J. B. MOGILVRAY.

Gopjes of this patent may be obtained for each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. G. v 

